"Een seer vermaert ende wonderlijc vinder van vreemde drollen ende seltsame grillen" - A Review of the Persona of Hieronymus Bosch

Abstract

Hieronymus Bosch has one of the most clearly defined personae among artists of the early modern period. Many perceive the painter to be an isolated eccentric, haunted by visions. This image has been reinforced by a number of present day publications. Yet the persona of Bosch has been largely based on a single element of his oeuvre: his depiction of visions of Hell, demons, and devils. The emphasis on this theme began soon after his death in 1516, and developed during the 16th and early 17th centuries. This narrow focus, however, does not consider the fact that Bosch worked in an established tradition of iconography and workshop practice. He was highly successful, and his international clientele was part of the highest echelons of society. Taking this into account, this article focuses on how the persona of Bosch originated, and why this image has been so persistent over the centuries.